The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else named IBBY 2012 Honour Book

Gecko Press are delighted to announce that The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else, published in April 2011, has been selected as the IBBY New Zealand 2012 Honour Book for Writing.   

The Honour Book list is promoted by IBBY biennially to bring to international attention outstanding books from each of the 70-odd member countries. IBBY New Zealand is a group within the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust.

Each IBBY country considers books published in the past two years and selects one which they consider particularly notable. There are also prizes for Illustration and Translation.

The presentation of the IBBY Honour Book Award will be made at the IBBY World Congress in London in August 2012. There will be a travelling exhibition of all books selected, giving further exposure, and a booklet to be distributed globally.

Past recipients of this award include Kate De Goldi’s The 10pm Question in 2010 and Bernard Beckett’s Genesis in 2008.

Congratulations to Barbara, who said on hearing her book had been selected, ‘This is stunning and magical news. The Travelling Restaurant was a joy to write and I am stunned that it has the chance to sail in such top quality international company.’
Gecko Press Publisher Julia Marshall is currently overseas on her way to the Frankfurt Book Fair and says that several interested publishing houses are currently reading it.

‘We are extraordinarily excited by this news! This IBBY Honour Book selection is very timely. Barbara has finished the second book in the series, and I am loving reading it. We anticipate huge interest on its publication in 2012.’

Media release supplied by Gecko Press.